THE Assistant General Secretary of Fiji's Methodist Church, Reverend Jeremaia Waqainabete, will be buried on Friday.

Waqainabete, 60, died early on Saturday after a short illness.

Known for his humility and kindness, Waqainabete was instrumental in running a ministry for young people at the weekend.

The Coffee Ministry ensured that people returning from nightclubs could receive a warm drink and some food on the way home.

This was to help them sober up and ensure their safety.

Waqainabete has been described as deeply intellectual and a liberal theologian.

Pacific Conference of Churches General Secretary, Reverend James Bhagwan described Waqainabete as a champion for the less fortunate.

"He was a champion for peace, a champion for equal rights, a champion for those with minority rights, he was a champion for the less fortunate and those deprived of their human rights but above all he was a champion for God," Bhagwan said.

Waqainabete was educated at Davuilevu Theological College and the University of Birmingham.

He is survived by his wife, Adi Vanii, and three daughters.

The official funeral gathering will begin tomorrow (Wednesday) at the Jubilee Hall, Toorak in the capital.

By NETANI RIKATHE Lay Vice-President of the Methodist Church in Fiji, Kalisiana Koroi, died in his sleep on Monday night.He was instrumental in the rolling out of the church’s corporate plan designed to create a more responsible, cohesive, transparent and caring institution.Koroi was a popular choice for Vice President, polling 453 of a possible 665 votes at the church conference in 2017. He took up office in January.A mechanical engineer by training, Koroi was educated at Ratu Kadavulevu School and the University of Wales before joining the (then) Fiji Institute of Technology.Koroi later served as Training Manager for the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the Training and Productivity Authority of Fiji before retiring to work for the church.Funeral arrangements will be finalised after discussions between Koroi’s family from Makadru, Matuku and the Methodist Church.He is survived by his wife, Reijeli, three daughters, a son and grand- children.